Jim Tkach is a grandfather and coaching in Delaware

FROM KEITH GROLLER

At the height of the storm on Saturday night, I got an e-mail from former Northern Lehigh coach Jim Tkach who told me he was bunkering down in his new home in Milford, Del. -- not too far from Rehoboth Beach.

All went well we've since learned.

Jim and his wife Sandi moved from Slatington to Delaware in the spring to be closer to their daughter, Tristan, and their first grandchild.

Well, the grandchild, Cooper Bo Brannan, made its arrival on Thursday, Aug. 25 at 4:10 a.m.

The baby and entire family are doing great.

Jim is on his brother, Mike's, coaching staff at Milford High School.

Jim said: "Football is going well. A bit of an adjustment. Things in the Valley are much more intense and focused than it is here."

He said he has already made some great relationships with the players at Milford, which is not a surprise.

"Like any other young person, they want attention and discipline," Jim said.

On another note, Tkach said the Bo Tkach Foundation continues to grow and prosper.

"I have been up to speak twice in the last two weeks, but the six-hour round trip doesn't leave us too much time to visit," Jim said.

The Panther Valley – Lehighton game is being dedicated to the Bo Tkach Foundation on Thursday Sept 15 and the Northern Lehigh–Northwestern game in Slatington on Oct. 14 will be a night to honor both the Bo Tkach Foundation and the Tackle ALS organIzation of Brett Snyder, the former Northwestern and Lehigh University star.

Accoring to Mike Feifel's new book on the history of Colonial League football, Jim ranks fourth on the all-time list of Colonial League coaching leaders with a record of 90-30 in 12 seasons at Northern Lehigh (1994-05).

That does not include Jim's two years at Northern Lehigh 1992-93 when the Bulldogs were in the Cenntennial League (they were a combined 3-19) and it also does not include his three seasons at Palmerton (1979-81) when the Blue Bombers were also in the Centennial League and went 8-20-4.

Put it all together and Jim coached at Northern Lehigh and Palmerton for a combined 17 seasons, going 101-69-4.

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